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Before I start spewing accolades about the Harbor Freight 1000-pound motorcycle lift that I just bought on sale, let me make some qualifying statements: 1) I'm not a shill for Harbor Freight; 2) while it would be nice to get Harbor Freight advertising at the magazine, they're not on board yet nor have they been solicited, so gaining advertising is not my motive for the following comments; and 3) some of what Harbor Freight sells leaves much to be desired...tactfully put.
I have been watching this item on sale at the motorcycle magazines for a couple of years and saw it close up at the Harbor Freight outlet locally. You've figured out by now that I'm a weldor and metal fabricator, and for me, the cost of steel, machining, stamping, hydraulics, forming and painting made this ramp type lift an absolute bargain...
Its full retail price around $700 (U.S.), the chronic sale price at the magazines around $300, the lift deserves your attention! When it went on a three-day sale at $319.99 plus local sales tax (without freight charges since I could pick up a fresh, crated unit from the local Reno store), I took the plunge. My birthday and Father's Day this year will be remembered as the "Year of the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Lift!"
The package weighs 317 pounds, mostly steel, and the crating is appropriate for getting the lift from China to the U.S.—and your shop. Harbor Freight loaded the package from a forklift into the Dodge Ram truck bed. I used an engine hoist to unload safely at my end.
Note the stand/chock I added after reading the lift reviews at the Harbor Freight website. I also purchased the recommended bottle of jack oil and used 1/3 of it to top off the lift's jack before using the lift. A very small funnel is helpful for filling the bottle jack. Handle the barrel-shaped rubber fill plug with care. The plug is necessary, so resist the impulse to cut the plug into small pieces and toss it out...Harbor Freight could improve on the bottle jack's fill plug design. A threaded plug with copper or O-ring gasket would be one approach.
For the most part, this is a pre-assembled, easier package, yet it still took me over an hour from opening the crate to the lift fully assembled (properly) and ready for use—plus another half hour to drill holes and mount the heavier stand/chock and add-on, heavy duty eye bolts at the rear of the ramp deck. Some say the lift can be set up in half an hour—really? I'm detail oriented, so maybe it took me 15 minutes longer than others. Incidentally, the stand/chock paid off big for tying down the motorcycle on the lift by myself.
Note: The removable ramp end is hefty and diamond plate like the lift ramp...I found all of the steel and engineering suitable for my kind of motorcycle service work. Some reviewers boast about Harley-Davidson full-dressers being well within the lift's ability. Maybe so and great—I'm glad my cycles never weigh over 550 pounds these days, one GL1500 Goldwing was enough from both a riding and serviceability standpoint.
Here are the features of my new lift, you can judge for yourself. If you do motorcycle or ATV work and are tired of bending down and struggling with minor or major repairs and powertrain work, take the pro shop level, ramp lift approach—at your garage, motorcycle shop or home shop!
(Click on photos to enlarge. If you're visiting as a guest and find this kind of forum helpful, consider joining so you can enjoy photos and other member features—all for free!)
All said, the 1000# Harbor Freight motorcycle lift is the best buy in the World at the sale price...I have other Harbor Freight heavy steel products and do use Pittsburgh heavy duty impact grade sockets and ball-joint tools—alongside my professional OTC, Miller, Snap-On, Craftsman, Mac and Proto tools!
Moses

At our Jeep TJ Wrangler forum, we've been tackling the #1 Cylinder Misfire P0301 DTC issue. Member Belvedere brought up the weak valve spring issue and offered some great suggestions on changing out the valve springs on a Jeep inline six!
Regarding weak valve springs on the 2.5L four or 4.0L and 4.2L inline Jeep six, weak springs can show up in a simple manifold vacuum check. At any steady throttle setting, there will be an erratic, shaky vacuum needle movement with the vacuum gauge hooked up to an intake manifold vacuum source. (Not to be confused with the wider swinging needle movement associated with a valve that is steadily leaking.) As Belvedere shared, weak valve springs can build up carbon, as the valves do not seat firmly when closed.
Valve springs can actually be tested for valve seat pressure on the engine. Above is a photo of a simple tester available for that purpose. (Click here for a more upscale Moroso 62388 design available at JEGS.) With the rocker arm(s) removed, head and valves still in place, this over-the-top spring pressure tester can indicate the actual seating pressure, which is a true test of each valve spring's function. This is a sensible testing method with the least amount of teardown work: simply removing the valve cover and rotating the crankshaft to close the valve(s) to be tested. (Caution: Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent starter engagement when turning the crankshaft by hand.)
There are two off-the-engine tests for weak valve springs. If Belvedere still has the original springs, measuring and comparing the free standing height of the springs can be one test. Another method, commonly used by automotive machine shops and race engine builders, is actual spring compression testing (read in actual pounds force or as PSI) with a special gauge. This measures pressure as the spring compresses.
As for removing the valve springs, Belvedere's classic rope-in-cylinder method works. (See the exchange at the Jeep Wrangler TJ forum under the #1 Cylinder Misfire thread.) So does an air hold, and this is especially easy for #1 cylinder, since the timing mark for TDC on the crankshaft damper is a quick way to find TDC for #1 piston.
Here's how I do an AMC-design Jeep 4.2L or 4.0L valve spring removal:
1) Disconnect the battery negative cable to disable the starter. Remove the valve cover and spark plugs, at least #1 plug in this case, all of them to make rotating the crankshaft easier by hand. Rotate the crankshaft by the damper bolt, turning the crankshaft in its normal direction of rotation. Watch the valves open and close to be sure #1 piston is coming up on its compression stroke as you bring the damper pulley around to TDC on the compression stroke.
2) Set the damper mark at TDC to be sure the #1 piston is at the top. This will prevent fears of "losing" a valve into the cylinder.
3) Use an air hold fitting in the #1 spark plug hole to keep the valves up in position. These adapter/tools are commercially available and inexpensive, or you can make an air hold tool with an air coupler and an old spark plug. (See my comments below. Summit Racing lists the KD 901 adapters for $4.97, the best price I've seen anywhere! For that price, no need to make your own.)
4) Remove the #1 cylinder intake and exhaust rocker arms. The pedestal bolts simply get torqued back into place, there is no valve "adjustment" to be concerned about when you reassemble the rockers. (Just align the arms carefully with the pushrod tips and valve stems when you reinstall the rocker arms.)
5) With a stream of air applying pressure from any reasonable size home shop or garage air compressor, you can remove the valve springs using the "over the top" method. (80-90 PSI should be plenty, there will be some leak down, so your tank compressor should be full when you begin the spring change out. You can recharge the compressor if necessary between each spring removal.) Belvedere's approach with a pry tool attached to the rocker stud can be effective, and this tool is readily available. KD has made an affordable rocker pedestal pry bar for many years. Even if "universal" fit, however, make sure the tool is designed for the Jeep 4.0L engine application, or you will be fighting this task.
6) There is also an over-the-top valve spring compressor available, which can be easier to control for the less practiced mechanic. (OTC's version is shown at the Summit Racing page link. KD makes a tool like this, too.) This is a two jaw compressor that can compress the spring between the valve spring retainer and the spring coils. This tool is great—as long as there is enough installed spring height and adequate coil gaps for the jaws to fit. You must be able to compress the spring enough to safely remove the valve keepers. With either tool, stay centered on the valve spring retainer to prevent valve stem or keeper damage, and carefully remove the keepers like Belvedere cautions. Belvedere's magnet suggestion works for lifting out and installing the keepers.
Note: If you do use Belvedere's rope method for holding the valves, make sure the piston is coming up on the compression stroke before inserting the rope. Otherwise, rope could get caught between a valve head and seat, which would reduce exposed valve stem height (or chew up the rope under valve spring pressure).
As for making an air hold tool, above is a photo of the hold I made in ten minutes for a tight-access Honda four-valve motorcycle engine. The KD type adapter is so inexpensive that unless you need the tool this minute or have a unique situation (like the narrow access Honda four-valve thumper motorcycle engine, which will not accommodate the air hold adapter!), buy the KD or similar air adapters.
Steps involved in making and using an air hold tool:
1) Remove the ground strap from the old spark plug shell.
2) Knock the porcelain and center electrode out of the plug shell. Use eye protection, you're breaking porcelain/glass here.
3) If the shell size allows for tapping with a pipe tap, you can drill, cut and thread for an air coupler fitting's male threads.
4) Use Teflon tape on threads of the air coupler fitting if you do use the threaded method. I find brazing works very well and can be a much quicker way to attach the air coupler fitting—if you have an oxy-acetylene welding/brazing torch.
5) Surface grind away any rough areas, like the remainder of the ground strap weld. Wire brush your "new tool" as required. You don't want loose material to blow into the engine's cylinder.
6) Thread your KD type or homemade tool into the spark plug hole. With the piston at TDC and the valves closed, hook your hose coupler to the air fitting and apply compressed air at the fitting and into the cylinder.
The air hold tool is a way to hold the valves in position and also run a crude cylinder leak down test. (For details on a leak down test, see my HD video how-to at the magazine site.) Though you cannot measure the percentage of leak with an air hold adapter, you can certainly find a badly leaking valve or leaky piston rings by the volume of air leaking out of the cylinder through the exhaust pipe, intake manifold/throttle body/carburetor or into the crankcase. The leak down test is only reliable when performed with each piston at TDC on its compression stroke and both valves closed.
That the PCM would send a #1 Cylinder Misfire DTC, code P0301 in this case, due to weak valve springs is "interesting". The diagnostic tie-in here would be incomplete combustion, since fuel flow volume through the injectors is uniform (whether the valves seat properly or not), and the ignition spark reliability can be easily determined with an oscilloscope analysis. Poor injector flow or weak spark can also create incomplete combustion and a misfire.
So, that means that the DTC reflects poor combustion at #1 cylinder, which could also be the result of inadequate valve sealing from the weak springs. AMC-design engines do not have a history of weak valve springs, so weak valve springs should not be an epidemic or wide-ranging concern. However, it would be a factor in some cases, and "weak valve springs" can result from valve seat recession/wear, overheated valve springs or over-revving the engine to the extreme and "floating the valves". The 4.0L and 2.5L engines are known to run 250K miles without valve spring issues.
Belvedere, thanks for sharing. This kind of information is very helpful to the forum members! I'm very pleased that you take time to contribute at this level!
Moses

Most engine troubleshooters understand and use a compression gauge to diagnose serious engine seal problems. I use a compression gauge for a quick and general overview of engine condition. In addition to the relatively inexpensive compression gauge, I have used a cylinder leak down tester for over thirty years now.
A quality compression gauge is valuable. This gauge has been with me for many years. Ford truck buffs will appreciate the 18mm spark plug thread adapter. Triton aluminum head owners would value the iron FE and big-block heads—with 18mm iron spark plug threads and tapered seat ends—no need for a gasket, a proven Ford approach until the aluminum cylinder head era! (Click on photos to enlarge.)
A compression gauge requires a cranking engine to force compression pressure into the gauge. Used properly, the compression gauge reading indicates the PSI (U.S. and British measurement) of gases compressed into the cylinder head's combustion chamber.
Basics for using a compression gauge: 1) Disable the ignition to prevent engine startup, 2) hold or block open the throttle during cranking to assure adequate induction air volume for test accuracy, and 3) crank the engine for seconds per cylinder, not for a lengthy period. As the engine cranks, watch for a peak reading at the gauge, which will occur within a few seconds of cranking. A typical automotive or truck engine is designed to crank over at 80-200 rpm to achieve ignition/combustion, so several seconds of cranking is plenty for a compression check!
The compression gauge provides a reading of peak compression during cranking, not when the engine fires or is running. Actually, the engine's compression while firing under load may be much lower than the cranking compression. As cylinder pressures rise, like when climbing a grade or pulling a load—or crawling rocks along a 4x4 trail—the ability of the cylinders to seal will be far less if there is engine wear.
Note: Engine wear that I'm discussing here is not just worn valves, a head gasket leak or valve lift issues. It's also the cylinder's ability to seal under load, and more specifically, the condition of the cylinder walls, pistons and piston rings. In the case of pinpointing cylinder wall and ring seal, a compression gauge is simply not up for the task!
This is my Snap-On cylinder leak down tester, an MT324 model purchased in 1981. Prior to that time, I used a compression gauge and an engine oscilloscope "dynamic compression test" mode to compare relative cylinder condition. The leak down tester provides pinpoint diagnosis! (Click on photos to enlarge.)
When we move to the leak down test, our entire aim changes. Instead of cranking compression, we're now addressing one thing: actual cylinder seal. This means consistent valve seal, piston/ring seal, head gasket seal and no casting cracks. The test is not a cranking test. It's static with the piston at top dead center (TDC) of its compression stroke, valves closed.
This last point is very important. The leak down test takes compressed air from your air compressor and an air hose source and runs that air into the spark plug hole (plug removed). Typically, a leak down gauge will operate at 60 PSI or higher, enough force to push the piston downward if the piston is not precisely at the peak of its travel: TDC!
This is one way to find TDC accurately: a two-stroke engine timing tool, purchased during my motorcycle repair shop days in the early 1970s! Note the spark plug thread adapters with a slotted section in the adapter to aim a dial indicator directly through the spark plug opening. This tool finds TDC within 0.001" accuracy! The setup is time consuming, however. There are other, quicker ways to find TDC for the purpose of a cylinder leak down test—as long as the piston is at its peak and not likely to plunge downward when you apply compressed air! (Click on photos to enlarge.)
It takes time to set up a leak down test. On a Jeep engine like JJ_Jeep's 4.0L inline six, there are only two cylinders that can use the crankshaft pulley marks to set TDC: #1 and #6. The other cylinders either require 1) looking into the spark plug hole to align the piston with TDC, 2) use of a two-stroke timing kit or similar fixture and a dial indicator in the spark plug hole to find TDC, or 3) marking the crankshaft pulley accurately for each of the other four cylinders at TDC. Make sure the piston is on the compression stroke's TDC when running a leak down test.
Note: A crankshaft pulley 360-degree tape is available from sources like Summit Racing. This can make leak down tests much easier. The firing order helps identify the cylinders, and in the Jeep inline six, the order is 1-5-3-6-2-4, making #1 and #6 pistons reach TDC at the same time. Remember, too, that we're working with four-stroke engines, and the piston must be at TDC on the compression stroke, not the exhaust stroke!
If you set the piston to TDC on its compression stroke, each of the valves will be fully seated. Introducing compressed air at this point will fill the combustion chamber and the narrow space around the piston and above the upper piston ring. The air will come in steadily (if you have enough air supply!) at the air system's line pressure that you set.
The principle of the leak down test is for the gauges to measure incoming line pressure and also the pressure bleed-off within the cylinder. The bleed or "leak" is read as a percentage of the total air volume filling the combustion chamber, head gasket space, and piston-to-cylinder wall gap above the upper piston ring.
Example: Let's say that 100cc of air fills the combustion chamber, head gasket space and the piston to cylinder wall gap above the upper piston ring. If the ring gaps and any other seepage allow 10cc bleed-off of compressed air, the "leak down" in this case is 10%. 8-10% is excellent seal for a production automotive engine with gapped piston rings.
Caution: Always make sure the gauge couplings and the fitting at the spark plug hole do not seep air! A leak at the gauge's spark plug fitting seat will throw off the leak down readings.
The biggest asset of a leak down test is the very fact that the piston is at TDC. On an internal combustion engine, the wear of cylinders, or "taper", rakes outward toward the top. This means that the widest wear point in the cylinder will be right below the cylinder "ridge". The ridge is created as the taper grows, and the greatest wear point is where the top piston ring stops.
By pressurizing the cylinder with the top compression ring and other rings in the tapered zone, there is the highest likelihood of compressed air "leaking" past the piston rings: The ring gaps, especially the top compression ring, are at their widest, and this is a direct cause of leakage. With the piston in this position, the rings lose tension, their gaps are widest, and compressed air leaks by in greater volume. The extent of ring wear or cylinder taper dictate the percentage of leak down.
One proof that this phenomenon works: On a worn engine, back off the rocker arms and close both valves. Keep them closed. Raise the piston to TDC (maximum cylinder taper) and check the leak down rate. Now drop the piston to the BDC (bottom dead center) point with the valves closed. The piston is now in a "normal", minimally worn zone of the cylinder wall.
There will be a distinction in the degree of seal and the leak down reading, since the ring gaps close up at BDC, the ring tension increases, and the cylinder seal becomes normal or at least closer to normal. If there is little leakage difference, and the leak down percentage is low or minimal at both of these piston positions, cylinder taper is minimal...Without tearing the engine down for inspection, you likely have an engine with minimal cylinder wall and ring wear!
Before loosening rocker arms to close valves, run a regular leak down test with nothing but the spark plugs removed. Since JJ_Jeep's issue with the 4.0L is a #1 cylinder misfire, it's easy to set up the leak down tester for the #1 cylinder, using the timing mark on the crankshaft pulley and the timing cover marker to set the crankshaft at TDC.
Make sure the ignition is disabled to prevent engine firing...I bring the pulley to the "O"-degree position by slowly turning the crankshaft in its normal direction of rotation. Make sure you're on the compression stroke. If necessary, remove the distributor cap and note the rotor position. (JJ's pre-'99 TJ 4.0L still uses a distributor cap and spark leads.) Coil-on-plug engines are a bit more involved. Make sure the piston is coming up on its compression stroke to exact TDC.
Read the tester instructions for recommended air supply pressure. On gapped rings with inside gas ledges on the compression rings, supply pressure will determine the force that the rings will exert against the cylinder wall. A cranking or running engine will typically have 120-175 PSI working compression in each cylinder. The leak down gauge may want much less incoming pressure than this...See the manufacturer's recommendations for your leak down tester.
With the valves seated, piston at TDC and air pressure at the tester gauges set properly, we now have a steady stream of compressed air entering the cylinder. Even if the valves and head gasket seal perfectly, a percentage of incoming air will "leak" by or "down" the cylinder and past the rings. This is normal if rings have end gaps, which is the case for most production automotive engines.
Note: Overlapping end, interlocking or "zero gap" rings have minute leak down. On a typical production engine, there is a controlled and predictable leakage, optimally around 8% to 10%. Zero-gap rings on racing and performance motorcycle engines can seal as tightly as 2% leak down. We need ring gaps on everyday automotive engines to allow for a wide range of heat cycling, expansion rates and varied operating conditions.
So, a reading of 8-10% on a newer engine is great. Up to 20%, even 25%, on an engine with some wear can still function well if the engine also has good cranking compression readings. On an engine with 20%-25% or higher leak, I do run a cranking compression test and make sure there is not excessive oil consumption. Assume that a 20-25% leakage engine has a shorter remaining service life.
As with a compression gauge reading, uniform seal per cylinder is desirable under any leak down test. If readings exceed 20% or so, start looking for leakage. You will find leaks readily while running a leak down test.
When an intake valve leaks, you will hear air escaping through the throttle body or a carburetor's air horn. For exhaust valve leaks, listen at the tailpipe. For piston ring blow-by, pull the dipstick or oil filler cap, and listen for the air entering the crankcase past the rings. If you have difficulty hearing this air flow at any of these points, use an automotive stethoscope or even a piece of tubing, like rigid electrical conduit, as a sound amplifying device.
For accuracy, do not run the test for a long period. Oil will leave the cylinder walls, and the reduced seal will be detectable as a higher leak down percentage. Also, on rare occasions, a valve may have carbon or deposit buildup near its face, and the compressed air dislodges debris. If debris lodges between the valve face and seat, there will be a false leak reading.
Note: Such an instance would be an engine with serious carbon or deposit buildup. One way to minimize this risk is to not apply air pressure until the piston is at TDC with the valves completely closed on the compression stroke.
Why do we care whether the engine has too much leak down if the compression cranking test with a compression gauge indicates "normal" or factory-recommended cranking compression? There's a big difference, as I've shared. In the case of testing for cylinder taper and piston ring gap issues, the leak down tester pinpoints specific wear at the cylinder walls and even the degree of piston ring wear—yes, a widened ring gap, even with negligible taper on the cylinder, indicates ring face wear, loss of ring tension and poor ring seal. This raises the percentage of cylinder leak down.
It does matter that the cylinder seal is within proper leak down specifications. So-called "normal" compression gauge readings do not reveal how the cylinders seal under firing and engine load conditions. There is a rise in cylinder pressures when the engine is under load, like accelerating, pulling a grade or even going through the gears. Cylinder pressures also dictate the amount of spark voltage demanded.
Why is a compression gauge inefficient at diagnosing cylinder sealing troubles? Because the real test of engine seal and performance is the ability of rings, valves, gaskets and castings to work under load.
Piston compression rings have inside ledges that face upward. Compressed gases fill this void and force the piston ring outward against the cylinder wall for better sealing: The higher the cylinder pressure, the more outward ring pressure. As the piston rises in the cylinder, the ring pressure increases, and that contributes to cylinder taper. As I shared, taper creates a loss of compression due to the widening ring gap and loss of ring tension. Combustion pressure rise creates even more outward force at the compression rings, especially at the cylinder's taper zone.
Note: Ring gap is the measureable space between the ring ends, not space between the ring face and the cylinder wall. Unless zero gap type, new rings call for a specific clearance gap in thousandths of an inch or mm, measured with a feeler gauge.
As one example of the difference between cranking compression and cylinder leak down testing, I recall the stock, FJ40 "F" engine in the 1971 Land Cruiser that I built into an OFF-ROAD Magazine project in the late 1980s. The engine had considerable mileage, though it consumed minimal oil and ran "okay". A cranking compression test showed adequate and uniform compression over the six inline cylinders. Uniform compression, in particular, is always desirable.
When I ran a leak down test on this engine with my Snap-On tester, the results were astounding: While the engine had uniform cranking compression around 120-125 PSI, the leakage per cylinder was 40% or higher! How is this possible? In this case, it had much to do with the incredible integrity of Toyota iron engine block castings, with higher nickel content and the hardness to resist taper.
Tearing down the engine for a ring-and-valve job, I found the F-six had worn its top/compression piston rings to the point of razor edges! I had nicks and cuts on my fingers from unsuspectingly handling the pistons and rings during their removal.
In this example, there was minimal taper, actually almost none, as I could still see factory honing or "crosshatch" running to the top of the ring travel in each cylinder! The ring gaps and diameters had worn to the point that air could leak past the top rings during a leak down test. The lower oil control rings still kept oil from wicking up the cylinder walls and burning.
The result: adequate cranking compression, no oil loss, yet high leakage and poor sealing. The pistons and rings could bluff through a compression test by forcing enough air into the compression gauge during cranking—especially with a long stroke inline six. This could not fool a leak down tester!
This engine ran sluggishly, the result of inadequate cylinder seal at the rings. The valves seated, the head casting and head gasket were fine, however, the combustion gases leaked past the rings and into the crankcase. Engines like this have a distinct "blow-by" smell in the crankcase oil. While the PCV system can recycle blow-by gases, the remnant of combustion gases remains in the oil. I have often referred to this odor, notable with the oil filler cap removed and the engine running, as the "smell of death".
Summing up, the compression gauge does have its place for quick diagnosis of major engine wear or damage. A valve that will not seat, or is actually "burned" with a piece etched out, will not evade detection in a compression test—nor will a blown head gasket or severely warped/cracked head casting. For that reason, an easy and fast check for severe damage can be done with a compression gauge.
The leak down tester is a pinpoint diagnostic tool. This test can detect specific valve leaks and wear like cylinder taper or the widening of ring gaps. It can simulate the engine under running load by continually applying compressed air into the cylinder—at the rate and pressure you select. As an added benefit, you can detect a head gasket or casting crack leak, including leaks between cylinders and leaks into cooling ports, which will force cylinder gases into the cooling system, detectable as bubbles at the radiator.
Caution: If you suspect a head gasket or cracked casting leak into the cooling system, the leak down test will raise cooling system/radiator pressure to the extreme. Remove the radiator cap before applying air to the cylinders, and start your air flow at a very low PSI, watching for bubbles in the radiator. Cooling systems normally operate in the 12-18 PSI range, depending upon make and model application! If you suspect leakage into the engine's cooling system, set your leak down tester's air supply pressure accordingly.
Warning: Always make sure the engine and coolant have cooled down before running a compression test or cylinder leak down test!
There are affordable leak down testers. If you do any amount of engine diagnostic work and want to get a better sense for what's inside an engine, to make an informed decision about its condition, I highly recommend a leak down tester. I still use a quality compression gauge to quickly test an engine for major trouble, often following up with a leak down test on the low pressure cylinder(s).
Here is just one example of an affordable leak down tester, I found this in two minutes with a Google Search:
http://www.tooltopia.com/otc-tools-5609.aspx?utm_source=pricegrabber&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=OTC5609&utm_campaign=pricegrabber_r1
Your test approach and tools of choice depend upon your needs and objectives. I've owned my Snap-On MT series leak down tester since 1981 and use it when necessary. The current generation of testers from OTC and others are more compact and easy to hook up, and they perform the same functions as my Snap-On tester. (Even Snap-On has simplified its testers for today's market.) There are also compression testers and leak down testers for diesel engine applications.
I made this leak down tester adapter in minutes. My Honda XR350R and XR500R four-valve thumpers have deeply recessed spark plugs, tough to reach with a spark plug wrench! I took an old spark plug, knocked out the porcelain electrode, removed and smoothed out the electrode strap end, then cleaned out and brazed the threaded plug shell to a piece of threaded black pipe. The brass "T" fitting provides for an additional gauge, and the air coupler nipple fits my Snap-On MT324 leak down tester. You can make an "air hold tool" in a similar fashion. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
If you want a very inexpensive leak down simulator without measuring actual percentage of leak, I've made testers for obscure motorcycle applications with peanut spark plugs and deep plug access. (See the photo above.) In this case, you still run the piston to precise TDC on the compression stroke, with the valves completely closed.
You can listen and hunt for air leaks at the common points. For the crankcase, listen at the oil filler opening. For an intake valve leak, listen for air at the throttle body or carburetor air horn. Listen at the exhaust or tailpipe for an exhaust valve leak. For a head gasket leak, try soapy water applied at the head gasket edge, compress air into the cylinder at TDC on the compression stroke, watch for air bubbles. Or for head gasket seepage or a cracked casting into a cooling port, watch the radiator for air bubbles—always using low supply line pressure as I've discussed.
The commercially available "air hold tool" is essentially to keep OHV valves closed during valve spring replacement without cylinder head removal. This tool can serve as a leak tester—without gauge readouts for the percentage of leakage.
K-D and others have made air hold tools for years if you want a ready made tool. The principle remains for leak testing: Run the piston to exact TDC on its compression stroke and apply compressed air into the cylinder. You can set air pressure at your air system's regulator. Listen for escaping air. While you won't know the volume or percentage that leaks off, you can detect major air leaks quickly.
I've made air hold tools as simply as knocking the porcelain and electrode from an old spark plug. Removing the electrode ground strap, I braze an air coupling nipple into the remaining spark plug shell—the threaded metal section. Clean up the piece thoroughly, removing all debris and loose metal, before inserting your new "tool" into the engine's spark plug threads...
Trust this helps you make the right tool choice!
Moses

There are many times when a pinpoint reading of brake hydraulic pressure is useful. Brake safety and vehicle handling require the right hydraulic force at each wheel of the vehicle—at the right time! Knowing precisely how much apply pressure is available at the master cylinder, combination valve, ABS system, wheel cylinders or disc brake calipers can help troubleshoot weak brakes, grabby brakes, brake pull, erratic handling under hard braking, hazardous wheel lock-up and more.
Whether you tackle your own vehicle service or operate a 4x4, OHV or motorcycle shop that depends on customer satisfaction, one valuable tool for brake system diagnostics is a hydraulic pressure tester. Maybe you're installing a retrofit rear disc brake upgrade like some of our forum members. Or you put oversized tires on your 4x4 and now a major braking issue has developed...If you take brake work seriously or find yourself in need of pinpoint information on a brake system's performance, consider a hydraulic brake and ABS diagnostic tool kit like this:
This tool kit can pay for itself quickly in pinpoint hydraulic brake system diagnosis. Click on images to enlarge.
(If you cannot see the pictures, join the forums for free, and get full member access!)
I find this tool valuable. You can separate hydraulic problems from mechanical issues, or ABS issues from defects in rotors, brake drums and friction materials. With the assortment of fittings, the kit can work on most domestic and import vehicles.
If you're having trouble separating brake performance issues, don't waste time and money on parts replacing that fails to solve problems...Take the guesswork out of brake work. Know how the hydraulic system performs before you leave the shop or driveway—not by trial and error. Invest in the right diagnostic tools!
Moses

When you work with brake, fuel and vacuum steel lines and fittings, you need the right wrenches! The quickest way to round the corners on tight or frozen flare nuts is with an open ended wrench.
The recommended tool for flare nuts is, not surprisingly, a "flare nut wrench". Even with a flare nut wrench, there are times when frozen brake line nuts or old fuel line flare nuts will simply not want to come loose. The hex corners begin to round, the sign of real trouble ahead!
I have high quality Bonney flares wrenches, a backup set of Craftsman flare nut wrenches and several chain wrenches—including a small, Wheeler Manufacturing chain wrench from the 1960s. That Wheeler chain wrench has saved my hide more than once, and it is probably my most versatile tubing work tool:
Click to enlarge photos...Forum members can view all photos...If you're visiting, consider joining the forums—it's free!
In a pinch, if the chain links are short enough, you can grip a softening flare nut. A chain wrench can also grip the base of a collapsed oil or fuel filter! My small chain wrench will grip a rusted brake flare nut securely, and that's small. It will also grip a collapsed oil filter canister near its solid base.
There is also this Vise Grips model: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=Vise+Grips+chain+wrench. It's useful and contemporary, although its chain link size will only drop to 5/8" diameter—okay for hardware but not good enough for smaller brake tubing nuts and most fuel fittings.
The side benefit of the Wheeler chain wrench is that when used properly, it does not leave a mark on the steel fitting nut! I've used these wrenches on high-end restoration work where the OEM hardware must appear original. You simply cannot achieve this with higher torque settings and a flare nut wrench. Even the most expensive flare nut wrenches will, by design, spread under load.
A tip and caution: Wrap the hardware with a layer of shop towel before gripping with the chain wrench. This will help protect the surface (although it will shred the towel!). Modern chain link wrenches with a toothed, flat leverage point are very rough on hardware and will leave marks if not used with extreme caution...See my Wheeler Manufacturing wrench's design (above), much easier on corners and flats of the nuts and other hardware!
So the next time you're at a garage sale, estate auction or used tool source, keep your eye open for a Wheeler Manufacturing chain wrench and other specialty tools "from the day". They truly do not make smaller chain wrenches like they used to...
Trust this helps your tubing flare nut and stuck oil filter situations!
Moses